Interpreting the Signs of the Times: Pop Culture in our English Classroom

Jesus told the Pharisees, “You know how to interpret the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3). This year, our English 9–12 students are learning to do just that: to see how God is at work in the stories shaping our modern world. Following Neo-Evangelical voices like Billy Graham, we’re engaging pop culture thoughtfully- not retreating from it as separatists, but asking where we can celebrate wisdom. Last year’s verse, Philippians 4:8, continues to guide us: “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable… think about such things.” Students will practice discernment, connecting the classics with film, music, and media, learning to engage both the Word of God and the world God loves. To begin the year, students connected this vision to our new school theme verse, Isaiah 40:31  “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength… they will soar on wings like eagles.” Each student chose a favorite pop cultural artifact and reflected on how it helps them imagine what it means to soar with hope and faith. In this way, their own cultural touchstones become entry points for exploring how God meets us in the longings and stories of our time.

 Jason — Toy Story

"To infinity and beyond!" is a good example of how to face any difficult and challenging tasks. 

Sunny — The Legend of Zelda

[Isaiah 40:31] offers a transcendent perspective which liberates us from earthly confines, with a powerful modern analogue in the macro view of the Legend of Zelda's world. The game's expansive open world embodies this concept of soaring. The freedom created for the players to explore its vast landscapes provides an analogue for the liberation described in Isaiah. This unique experience aligns with the biblical promise, suggesting to my imagination that placing one's hope in God provides a similar transcendent viewpoint, renewing strength, and allowing us to rise above earthly confines. Therefore, the courage to soar does not originate from within oneself but is granted through divine strength, transforming human weakness into a vessel for perseverance. In conclusion, the visual imagery in The Legend of Zelda and the Bible converge on a singular theme: soaring is a spiritual journey achieved through hope, reflection, and divinely sourced courage. 

Elijah — Elf

One way Buddy the Elf inspires me is through his faith towards joy...happiness can grow when we show it to others. This is inspirational to me because I can soar with joy even when life feels heavy. I can choose happiness and lift others up.  

Ingrid — Hunter × Hunter

Detours can frustrate us but often lead to the most meaningful growth, broadening my perspective of life and giving me the strength to face the difficulties and "soar" like an eagle toward the strong wind. If we have faith and stay hopeful, I believe nothing can get in our way. Like an eagle soaring in the sky, we will gain freedom, courage, and the ability to see the big picture from our challenges. Learning to embrace life's detours has helped me understand what it means to "soar": we should always rise with faith, strength, and purpose. If we can see these detours not as setbacks, but as part of our life journey, I am sure we will soar higher than imagined.

Elliot — Paddington

Paddington, a lost bear, does not know where to go and gets taken in by the brown family. Paddington teaches us that the world is not all bad; all we have to do is look. Paddington is part of the reason why I soar and why I am the person I am today...[Y]ou don't always have to blend in with the crowd because God sees everyone in his image. Paddington also teaches us that life will never come without challenges. That's why we must soar over them and trust God that everything will be alright.

Ella— Newsies

The Newsies had determination despite a troubling background and did not give up. In the end, the Newsies changed things for the better. This shows me that battles are only temporary, like a newspaper struggling against the wind. Suddenly, the breeze dies, and the newspaper is carried forward to new heights where it flies, invigorated. Knowing that battles are a step closer to soaring, we can be like eagles that have hope in the Lord with a revived spirit, like in Isaiah 40:31 

 Kenya- Matilda

“Quite the contrary, all grownups get scared just like children,” said Miss Honey from Matilda. This simple quote is significant to me because it shows that when life is hard or scary, we have to keep going. Miss Honey, Matilda's teacher, represents kindness, wisdom, and courage. She inspires me to soar above my fears and to learn how growth, courage, and understanding can come from facing fear. Miss Honey's words remind me that being scared isn’t showing weakness, it's being human. Instead of letting her fears stop her, Miss Honey soars above them, empowering me to do the same. 

 Georgia — The Giving Tree

The tree relates to how God loves us and sacrificed everything, even his own son. The Giving Tree inspires me and teaches me to soar through vulnerability and love...The Giving Tree is so selfless and gave up all of herself...The Giving Tree...relates to soaring because without God's love, we are nothing, just like the boy couldn't survive without her wood, her trunk, and her apples...Vulnerability, selflessness, and love are some of the best ways to help us soar, but not just any love, God's love. I hope one day I will be able to soar with God's love just like the boy in The Giving Tree. 

 Destiny — Tangled

Putting your hope in God makes "everything look different" (Tangled). Instead of living stuck and suppressed, you can live a transcendent life. Rapunzel's creativity, adventurousness, bravery, and perseverance inspire me to soar. Like Rapunzel, don't be afraid to move outside your comfort zone, change your perspective, and take that leap of faith. Soaring doesn't mean you weren't afraid; it means you "had a dream," went for it, and even faced challenging circumstances, looking for meaning, applying it to your life, and building your character to soar.

 Marie — Loki

Loki encourages me to soar because he teaches me that it's okay to not be in a good place all the time. Life requires mistakes, and mistakes help us to transcend...This verse prompts me to rise high through the thought and knowledge of making the impossible possible. I can do this with the help of God.

 Liana — Fight Club

Tyler Durdan inspires me to soar because he shows me how not focusing on your fear or caring for the materialistic things can give you more freedom and joy than any person's validation can provide you...freedom comes from letting go of what's holding me down.